Skin Care

The weather is getting colder, the central heating has been switched on and even my oily skin is feeling a bit drier. Historically, I don’t get on with a lot of night time moisturisers as they are formulated for dry skin which leaves my skin feeling clogged by morning time.

What I require from a night cream is something to lock in my serum, provide moisturisation throughout the night and one that doesn’t feel occlusive on my skin. On my hunt for a drug store moisturiser I came across the Australian, natural, organic skin care brand Sukin. Having liked the look of the brand and the price range I decided to buy the Sukin Sensitive Facial Moisturiser. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin but I always choose these products as they will have less (or no) allergens/ irritants in the formula which I believe are unnecessary in skin care anyway.

I chose the day cream instead of the night cream as I felt the night cream might be too heavy for my skin and the day cream doesn’t have any SPF in it anyway. A 125ml bottle of this moisturiser costs just £8.10.

Taken from the Sukin website “Shea butter and Aloe Vera with Rose Hip, Sesame and Jojoba oils to promote moisture and balance the skin. This light and gentle moisturiser, boasts Shea butter and Aloe Vera to calm and soothe the complexion.
Rapidly absorbed to deliver essential hydration to delicate skin, whilst Rose Hip, Sesame and Jojoba oils help promote optimal moisture levels for radiant, balanced skin.
Suitable for normal to sensitive skin types.”

Formula: The formula for this product is based on water, glycerin and numerous plant oils and butters such as sesame, rosehip, shea, cocoa, jojoba, avocado and wheatgerm. It also has a few ingredients known to calm the skin such as aloe and cucumber extract. I like that they have added vitamin E into the formula, a great antioxidant. The formula is free of parabens but does contain Phenoxyethanol and Benzyl Alcohol to preserve the formula safety for 6 months after opening.

Packaging: I love the packaging for this product. It comes in an opaque pump bottle, which is easy to use, hygienic and the ingredients will be more stable in this kind of packaging.

Application: One pump of this product is enough for my whole face and neck. The product once pumped into my palms melts really nicely into my hand and absorbs very quickly into my skin. It leave it feeling moisturised, but not oily. If you have normal-dry skin I wouldn’t recommend this for you as it isn’t moisturising enough.

Long term effects: I’ve been using this product for a few months now and I have to say I’m really happy with it! My skin feels soft, moisturised, I haven’t experienced a single breakout and I’m never greasy when I wake up. Overall this is a great, cheap product to use and one I will be repurchasing for sure.

In my quest for cheaper dupes for my favourite products I came across this cleansing oil from No.7. I’ve been religiously using the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil for a few years now but at £22 for a 200ml bottle it isn’t the most economic option. The No.7 cleansing oil is just £11 for a 150ml bottle.

Packaging: This cleanser comes in a clear bottle which is great because you can actually see when you need to top-up. On the top is a pump which you can lock close when it’s not in use. I use around two pumps per use and there is 150 ml of product in the bottle.

Ingredients: This cleanser is based on mineral oil and numerous plant oils such as avocado, olive, safflower and rose which may be comedogenic for some people who are acne-prone. It also contains vitamins E and C. Unfortunately this product contains fragrance and the fragrance has a very strong floral smell. As this is a wash-off product the fragrance doesn’t bother me too much but if you have sensitive skin I’d skip this product.

Texture and appearance: This oil more “oily” than the Clinique oil. This means it clings onto the skin better, is more moisturising but also leaves an oily film on the skin when washed off. I’d say it is more suitable for dry to normal skin.

Application: I take the oil between my palms and massage it into my skin for around 30-60 seconds focusing on areas like the eye. I haven’t experienced irritation or stinging even when the product got into my eyes, making it safe for eye make-up removal. You can wash this directly off the skin (it turns to a milky emulsion) or use a soft face cloth. I do find that this product leaves an oily film on my skin and it isn’t as good at removing eye make-up as the Clinique cleanser.

Above, I tested this product with different makeup; foundation, concealer, mascara, pencil eyeliner, liquid eyeliner, eyeshadow primer, eyebrow pomade, lipstick, liquid lipstick and eyeshadow. After massaging the product in for 60 seconds I rinsed off with warm water and patted dry. It did a great job of getting rid of all the make-up apart from the long wear liquid liner.

I wouldn’t say this is an exact dupe for the Clinique cleansing oil, which will remain my holy grail cleanser. It doesn’t perform at removing heavy make-up and I’m not a fan of the texture and ingredients for my oily skin. However, it is a good option for me on my lighter day-to-day make-up. With it being just £11 a bottle I may repurchase it but I’m looking to try some other drug-store cleansing oils first.

Have you tried this cleanser before? What is your favourite oil cleanser? Comment below and let me know!

Summer is in full swing, but the thing I dislike the most is the fact that my make-up melts off my face by 10am on most days. I’m currently on a bit of a hunt for the best oil controlling products for my skin and decided to pick up a travel size of the Urban Decay De-Slick Make-Up Setting Spray.

This make-up setting spray is aimed specifically at oily skin. The formula is oil free and paraben free. Taken from the Urban Decay website:

To apply this product it’s recommended to put it on before and after your base (foundation). I love the application of this spray because the fine nozzle allows a fine mist and even distribution of the product. Around 2-3 pumps is all I need for my full face and the product doesn’t feel tight or occlusive on my skin. After a full days wear I can definitely see an improvement in the appearance of my make-up but mostly there is some really good oil control.

I actually used this mist when I was on holiday in Barcelona and it kept my face looking as fresh as possible. There was some dewiness around the 4 hour mark in extremely hot and humid weather but it didn’t cause any breakouts. I’ve been using it back home in London where it isn’t as hot and have been having great oil control for around 6 hours. This product is a must in my make-up arsenal and a go-to when the hot sticky weather strikes.

Whilst scrolling through the internet for the next product to test for you guys I came across the Genius serum from San Franciscan clinical skincare brand, Algenist. At £85 for a 30ml bottle I knew this serum was not to be bought on a whim. After a lot of research I decided to take the plunge and purchase it.

The Genius serum claims to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the appearance of age spots and reduce discoloration (my main skincare concern!).

Packaging: I really like the packaging for this product. It comes in a fully opaque pump meaning it is stable to light and air exposure. Having said that, you won’t know if you’ve run out of product, till you run out of product.

Formula: The formula of the serum is really what convinced me that I needed it in my life. The formula is based on silicones and the main actives are Alguronic acid, Microalgae oil and Vitamin C. Vitamin C in skincare products are my weak spot and this product has a high concentration of it! Alguronic acid is a patented compound which is said to be responsible for regeneration and protection of the microalgae cell. Microalgae oil contains oleic acid (an essentially fatty acid in the skin), phytosterols, tocopherols and tocotrienols which are essential nutrients for healthy skin. The formula also contains a plethora of cell-communicating ingredients for the regeneration and healing of hyperpigmented skin. Unfortunately, it does contain parfum and alcohol derivatives making it unsuitable for sensitive skin.

Application: A single pump of this product is enough for the whole face. The product comes out as a clear gel that feels cooling on the skin and absorbs very quickly. I didn’t find the product to be sticky or uncomfortable.

Long term results: I used this product every night for 3 months. Within the first few weeks I saw an overall improvement in the brightness of my skin. It looked a bit more plump and radiant which is what I usually get when using a new serum. After the first few weeks however I stopped seeing any further improvement in my skin. It didn’t improve the hyperpigmentation around my mouth and eyes nor did it fade dark spots.

All in all despite the amazing ingredients and overall positive reviews I’ve read, I’d say this serum was not worth the £85 price tag. Perhaps my skin isn’t mature enough to gain the full benefits from it, but I definitely will not be repurchasing it as I have gotten better results from cheaper serums that I’ve used in the past.

Have you tried this serum before? What is your favourite serum? Comment below and let me know!

I have an extremely oily t-zone which up until a few weeks ago I’d just given up with. My oiliness is so bad that even when wearing my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation (anyone who wears this knows how drying the formula is) AND powdering it within an inch of my life, it still gets oily by lunchtime.

I’ve never had any luck with mattifying primers in the past with them either just not working or breaking me out. I do love my Hourglass mineral veil primer for special occasions, but in terms of oil control it does nothing for me. I’d been recommended the Mat Base Corrector primer numerous times over the last year and decided to finally drag myself to Kiko to purchase it. At £8.90 for a 25ml tube it’s extremely affordable so I was really excited at the prospect of being oil free on a budget!

I tested this product on and off for around 3 weeks to be able to give a full, honest review.

Packaging: I really like the packaging for this product. It’s an opaque tube with a very small opening that makes it easy to dispense the correct amount of product. There is no air and light exposure making the formula stable.

Formula: The formula for this primer looks promising for oily skin. It’s water based and doesn’t contain any silicone which has been known to break out blemish prone skin. There are a number of oil controlling actives such as the oily absorbing clay magnesium aluminum silicate, propylene glycol and Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract. It also contains antimicrobial ingredients to prevent break-outs such as phenoxyethanol, butylene glycol and oleanolic acid. It doesn’t contain any fragrance or colourant. Unfortunately I’m not a big fan of alcohol in formulas but considering I only wear foundation two or three days a week I’m okay with using a primer with alcohol in it.

Application: This product comes out as a thick clear gel, when I apply it on my skin it doesn’t glide on and leaves a bit of a tacky finish. I find that I have to spend more time applying foundation on top of this primer as it does make foundation drag and catch.Once the product is on my skin looks completely matte and doesn’t look cakey.

Longevity: By the end of my 12 hour day I’d say my skin is around 50% less shiny compared to using foundation alone and remains oil-free for up to 8 hours. There is no oiliness around my cheeks but there is still some shine on my nose and especially above my eyebrows. I didn’t experience any breakouts when using this product either which is great.

Overall I’m quite pleased with this primer, it’s pretty good for everyday use when it’s not too hot or humid outside and keeps my oil at bay for a maximum 8 hours in the T-zone. I don’t think it’ll hold up in the heat of the Summer for my skin personally so the search continues for a really strong oil controlling primer.

Have you tried this primer before? What were your thoughts? Do you have any recommendations for me? Comment below and let me know.

Every time I see the magical words “Vitamin C” in a skin care product my heart jumps in excitement that this just may be the product that gets rid of my hyper-pigmentation.

Hyper-pigmentation for me comes in many unsightly forms. It appears after sun exposure mostly on my nose and forehead causing a patchy appearance in my skin that lasts years, scars that last months after a getting a spot and around my eyes and mouth (not sure why but a lot of darker skinned women have this).

A very popular serum that I saw floating around the “Bloggersphere” was the Truth Serum Collagen Booster from Danish skincare brand Ole Henriksen. I bought a 15ml bottle from Feel Unique for £18 making it a lot cheaper than some of the high end serums I’ve purchased. Taken from the website:

“Like a daily vitamin for your face, this high powered vitamin C complex helps smooth out lines and wrinkles and prevents further damage. Loaded with antioxidants to fight off environmental aggressors and moisture-binding ingredients to keep your skin nourished and protected, Ole Henriksen truth serum collagen booster® is absorbed instantly and penetrates to the deeper layers of the skin to provide long term results. Sensitive skin prone to irritation will benefit immensely from the calming properties of this oil-free serum.

Packaging: Immediately upon receiving the product I was disappointed in the packaging. As this bottle is clear, any antioxidants, including my dear Vitamin C, will not remain stable with light exposure, the pump however is much better than serums that come with droppers.

Formula: This is a water based serum and contains a lot of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Glycerin, Aloe extract, Hyaluronic acid and a bit of Dimethicone, along with many antioxidants. It’s also got Thioctic and Citric Acid making it slightly exfoliating. A massive downfall for this product is the fact that it has lots of irritating fragrance and colourants in the formula.

Texture and fragrance: When I pumped the tinted orange product into my palm I was hit by an intense synthetic, sweet, orange fragrance which lingered for a few minutes after applying it onto my skin. The product left my skin feeling very tacky making it unsuitable for daytime use or for use under make-up. Three pumps of this product is enough for the whole face and neck.

Effects: After the first night of using this product I immediately noticed my skin looked brighter. Over the course of a week I saw my skin looking clearer but by the end of the second week the forbidden happened, I got a massive cystic spot on my left cheek, an area where I NEVER get breakouts. I stopped using the product after this happened to give my skin a break but I was left with an unsightly scar after the spot disappeared. So I began using the product again. My skin tolerated it well until around 3 weeks later I got another massive painful cystic bump on my chin. I stopped using it again. I’ve since begun using the product again for 2 weeks now and I’ve still got that bump on my chin that isn’t going away.

So I’m left in a bit of a sticky situation. On one hand I have noticed an overall brightening effect on my skin, my hyper-pigmentation on my forehead has pretty much faded and I’m getting away with using a lot less foundation in that area but the darkness around my mouth still remains. Unfortunately you can’t use this product around the eyes which is one of my main problem areas so it doesn’t help me in that sense.

On the other hand this product has proven to cause cystic spots on my skin, which are not only painful to the touch but leaves more scars once they calm down. So with that being said, I’m coming to the end of the 15ml bottle and I’m doubtful as to whether I’m going to purchase it again, I just don’t think the painful spots are worth the overall brightening effect that I’m seeing. I’m sure that I can find an alternative Vitamin C product that will give me similar effects, without the nasty side effects.

Have you tried this product before? What were your thoughts? Comment below and let me know!

Now before you say it, I’m well aware that a specific eye cream isn’t necessary in ones skin care routine. BUT if the skin around your eyes, like mine, is looking dehydrated and flaky, whilst the rest of your face feels oily, then you’ll understand that sometimes a facial moisturiser just doesn’t cut it.

Taken from the Kiehl’s website “Kiehl’s rich and creamy Avocado Eye Treatment is much loved by our patrons. The unique, concentrated texture is enriched with Avocado to gently moisturize the delicate eye area. The formula does not migrate into eyes and is Ophthalmologist and Dermatologist-Tested”. I bought the 14 gram pot for £20.

Packaging: The packaging for this eye cream comes in a little tub. I would have preferred a tube so that the ingredients keep fresh for longer and aren’t exposed to light and air.

Formula: This product is very creamy in texture due to the shea butter in the formula. It also contain avocado oil, castor oil, corn oil and some antioxidants (these are unstable due to the packaging). The formula doesn’t contain fragrance which is especially important for anything that you apply in the sensitive eye area.

Texture: When I first scooped a bit of this product out onto my ring finger I found that it didn’t spread on the eye area and it definitely needed to be warmed up first before application. Once it has been warmed up and absorbed into the skin it leaves a slightly “oily” finish to the skin which disappears come morning time. If you’re using this in the morning the oily finish helps application of concealer. I didn’t experience any irritation or migration into the eyes.

Overall verdict: Even after the first application of this eye cream I found that my dry skin was completely eliminated. The cream doesn’t migrate into my eyes causing them to burn and it helps my concealer look less creipy. This eye cream is more of a preventative measure for fine lines and wrinkles as opposed to an “anti-ageing” product. I also really appreciate that it is fragrance free, it’s suprising how many eye creams have unnecessary and potentially irritating fragrance in them. This eye cream is cheaper than most high end eye creams and little goes a long way. This small tub will last you around 6 months if used twice daily.

As I said before, this is not an “anti-ageing” product, it doesn’t claim to have any fancy ingredients in it which will make you look like you’re 12 years old again. However, it does moisturise my skin really well and prevents my skin from drying out which is exactly what I need. I shall be purchasing this again for sure!

Have you tried this eye cream before? What is your favourite eye cream, comment below and let me know!

By now you guys must know I’m a serious skin care addict and I do a lot of research before purchasing anything for my skin. When I saw the ingredients in the Perfectionist [Correct Prevent + Repair] Serum from Estee Lauder I thought “woah I need to try this”. This product is aimed at all skin types and claims to lift sagging skin, reclaim suppleness of skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. I bought the 30ml version of this from Boots for £56, making it the most expensive serum I’ve purchased to date!

Packaging: This serum comes in a semi-opaque purple plastic container with a air-proof pump. I like that it has a pump so it isn’t exposed to air. However, the packaging should be completely opaque to maintain integrity of antioxidants.

Formula: This product contains a lot of Dimethicone so avoid if you’re sensitive to this ingredient. It contains a lot of anti-oxidant ingredients which are great at mopping up free radicals in the atmosphere that damage skin. This formula also contains fragrance (which I try to avoid as much as I can), so those with sensitive skin may like to avoid this.

Texture and appearance: As soon as I pumped this product out into my hand I noticed the very thick silicone feel. It doesn’t spread easily on the skin even when it is warmed up in between my palms but it dries to a soft, velvety, powdery finish. This means it works really well as a primer for make-up and immediately fills in fine lines. It has a pleasant fragrance which disappears when applied to the skin.

Long term benefits: I’ve been using this product for three months in the night time only and I have noticed that it has balanced my skin in terms of oiliness. I have also noticed an improvement in the texture of my skin. I can’t comment on whether it has improved sagging or changed deep lines because I don’t have either yet. One important thing to note is that this is not a hydrating serum, therefore I would only recommend it to those with slightly oilier skin.

Overall verdict: Overall this serum helped balance my skin, improved the skin texture and didn’t cause any breakouts but at the same time it didn’t give me that youthful glow I got when using the Advanced Night Repair from Estee Lauder. 30ml of the product will last around 4 months if used one a day so I suppose it’s okay value for money. Honestly, I don’t think I should have bought this product just yet as I’m only 25 and don’t have mature skin. If you have oily, mature skin then perhaps this could work really well for you like it has many others and it might be one I come back to in the future when I do require that lift from a serum.

Have any of you tried this serum before? I’d love to know your thoughts on it, please comment below and let me know 🙂

Sensitive? Oily? Problematic? Rosacea? Fret not people, if you skin falls within this type, I have found the moisturiser for you. However, before I get onto that, let me tell you about how I fell upon this product.

I’ve been on the search for a night time moisturiser for a while now. Having combination-oily skin means that by morning time my face looks like an oil spill. I knew that I didn’t want to spend too much on a moisturiser and was searching for something without fragrance, alcohol or colourants. Recently, having had no success with Clinique Dramatically Different Gel Moisturiser, I found Toleriane Fluid from La Roche-Posay. A 40ml bottle of this costs £15 from FeelUnique and is sometimes on offer for £10.

As with all La Roche-Posay this product has no parabens, no perfume, no alcohol and no colourants, great! There are very few ingredients in this moisturiser in fact just 8. This is evident when you pump the product out into your palms, you’ll find that the moisturiser is very fluid; water and glycerin makes the bulk of this product.

This moisturiser doesn’t claim to do anything other than just that, moisturise, but what it does, it does very well. I use 3 pumps of this for my face and neck after my serum at night. It absorbs very quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. Come morning time my skin doesn’t have any rough or dry patches and it isn’t oily in my T-zone.

It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve started using this moisturiser and I can honestly say my skin now feels as soft as a babies butt, my pores don’t appear as clogged, I haven’t experienced any breakouts and my skin appears calmer (no redness).

Toleriane Fluid doesn’t help with wrinkles or hyper-pigmentation but I feel like that is what my serum is for. At this stage in my life I require a simple moisturiser that locks in the ingredients of my serum and gets rid of dry spots. This product does just that and doesn’t causing any irritation. If your skin is like mine then I whole-heartedly recommend it. It’s also a great non-fussy moisturiser for the guys!

Have you tried any products from La-Roche Posay before? Comment below and let me know.

Jay x

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About Me

Hi, my name is Jay and I'm a beauty junkie.
I'm 26, a Londoner born and raised. My day job involves dealing with the Quality Assurance of cosmetics where I'm constantly building my knowledge on ingredients and product safety. I'm always looking for the newest cosmetics with the most potent ingredients to try and review for you guys.
For me prevention is better than cure, so I look for products that will prevent premature ageing and long term damage.
Outside of blogging and working, I love cooking, eating, gymming, travelling, reading, watching TV series/films oh and I'm a massive hip-hop head :)
If you would you like to get in touch for PR/brand promotion you can email me at:
justjaybeautyblog@gmail.com
(Please note that I will only give HONEST reviews).
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jay x